PATERSON — A grand jury has indicted two former city auxiliary police officers for alleged misconduct that led to the death of a Garfield motorcyclist last year, authorities announced today.

According to a statement from Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, the panel found reasonable cause to indict Juan Martinez and Jonathan Lopez on a single count of official misconduct, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Martinez was also indicted on a single count of hindering one's own apprehension, Valdes said.

The indictments stem from an incident on April 17, 2012, when Martinez and Lopez were riding in an Office of Emergency Management vehicle. Despite having no authority to make traffic stops, the two allegedly turned on the vehicle's sirens and horns while traveling behind a motorcycle driven by Randolph Waddy, a 31-year-old Garfield resident.

"The actions of Martinez and Lopez prompted Randoph Waddy to accelerate and lose control of the motorcycle resulting in a crash into the rear of a parked motor vehicle," Valdes said.

After striking the car, Waddy was thrown from his motorcycle. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died.

According to the indictment, Lopez and Martinez witnessed the crash, but failed to stop, and did not notify either police or their superiors, as city regulations required.

Martinez is also accused of providing misleading information to detectives investigating the crash, which led to the hindering apprehension charge against him.